I have hacked together a working solution to run 3d accelerated Standoff and Secret Ops using only free and redistributable software, specifically under Linux through a hacked version of WINE (http://www.winehq.org ) and no microsoft system in reach.
This also means that a 3d accelerated Macintosh version of wing commander prophecy will be forthcoming as soon as Apple releases their x86 systems next year.
Linux users may receive step-by-step instructions to run standoff here http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/users/hellcatv/Standoff-Linux-HOWTO
This has improved my standoff experience an order of magnitude (I was really getting sick and tired of the 5-8 minute crashes on Windows 2000, and the only WinXP license I have activated is for my linux-only computer! I hate microsoft! I paid for one XP and it's tied to a computer that isn't running XP)
Anyhow, I've played through the first mission of Standoff Ep2 and all the standoff ep1 missions under linux and have had 0 crashes (fewer, even than WindowXP system I played on at a friend's house, due to Wine's excellent windows 98 compatability) The only glitches I've encountered are as follows:
ingame 3d cutscenes (not inflight) are sometimes drawn backwards.
if you have not locked a target, only ships in front of you appear on radar. This is remedied by 'L', but I rather like it (To quote BillyG: it's a feature, not a bug)
I had to significantly hack on the Direct3d over OpenGL implementation in WINE... the hack isn't perfect as demonstrated by the inability to render ingame cutscenes properly... I wouldn't mind talking to someone who has had more experience in the Vision engine 3d internals to work out the kinks in the inengine cutscene beauty.
This also means that a 3d accelerated Macintosh version of wing commander prophecy will be forthcoming as soon as Apple releases their x86 systems next year.
Linux users may receive step-by-step instructions to run standoff here http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/users/hellcatv/Standoff-Linux-HOWTO
This has improved my standoff experience an order of magnitude (I was really getting sick and tired of the 5-8 minute crashes on Windows 2000, and the only WinXP license I have activated is for my linux-only computer! I hate microsoft! I paid for one XP and it's tied to a computer that isn't running XP)
Anyhow, I've played through the first mission of Standoff Ep2 and all the standoff ep1 missions under linux and have had 0 crashes (fewer, even than WindowXP system I played on at a friend's house, due to Wine's excellent windows 98 compatability) The only glitches I've encountered are as follows:
ingame 3d cutscenes (not inflight) are sometimes drawn backwards.
if you have not locked a target, only ships in front of you appear on radar. This is remedied by 'L', but I rather like it (To quote BillyG: it's a feature, not a bug)
I had to significantly hack on the Direct3d over OpenGL implementation in WINE... the hack isn't perfect as demonstrated by the inability to render ingame cutscenes properly... I wouldn't mind talking to someone who has had more experience in the Vision engine 3d internals to work out the kinks in the inengine cutscene beauty.